Scouting Matchups: Week 6

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Anyone wanting • Complete advance scouting report

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</td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">2008 Scouting Matchups: Week 6

By Scouts Inc



Sunday, October 12, 2008

After watching the film and studying personnel packages, players' strengths and weaknesses, team tendencies and schemes, Scouts Inc. breaks down each and every game each week. Want to know how each team will attack its opponent? The keys to success for each team? The matchups to watch and which team has the advantage at each position? Scouts Inc. provides a complete scouting report on those areas and a prediction for every game.


<table class="tablehead" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr class="stathead"><td colspan="3">Scouts Takes</td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center"> </td><td width="100%">Ravens at Colts
1:00 PM ET

After controlling the majority of last week's game with their exceptional defense and power running, the Ravens couldn't finish off the undefeated Titans. Fresh off a bye week, the Colts fell behind the Texans on the road but battled back for the win with an amazing 21-point comeback in the final four minutes.
• Complete advance scouting report

</td><td align="center"> </td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center"> </td><td width="100%">Lions at Vikings
1:00 PM ET

As the Lions inch closer and closer to being mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, they become increasingly dangerous. A team that has nothing to lose tends to play with more abandon. By the same token the Vikings are starting to feel an increasing amount of urgency because they can't afford to fall behind another game to the division-leading Bears. The good news is that no one seems to be running away with the NFC North and either team could get back in the race with a hot streak. There is a lot of history in this rivalry and the records will mean little to the players in this matchup.
• Complete advance scouting report

</td><td align="center"> </td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center"> </td><td width="100%">Raiders at Saints
1:00 PM ET

After letting the Monday night game versus the Vikings slip away, the Saints find themselves in a must-win situation. Meanwhile, the Raiders look to turn their season around with new interim head coach Tom Cable. Expect Saints coach Sean Payton to stay aggressive by spreading the field with multiple personnel groupings and rely heavily on QB Drew Brees to maximize this offensive attack. Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Ryan must decide if he's going to attack Brees with multiple pressures or play maximum coverage on the backside. Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp takes over the play calling in Oakland and we expect him to be a lot more creative and take more shots vertically downfield. Defensively, the Saints will need another great effort to contain the Raiders' explosive rushing attack. Plus, the third phase of the game could be critical because the Raiders will have their hands full containing Reggie Bush on punt returns.
• Complete advance scouting report

</td><td align="center"> </td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center"> </td><td width="100%">Bengals at Jets
1:00 PM ET

The Jets are coming off their bye week after a big win at home versus the Cardinals, while the Bengals are still looking for their first win. Cincinnati has talent on both sides of the ball and could surprise the high-flying Jets, but head coach Eric Mangini is likely to have his club ready to come out strong. Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis is desperate for a win and the Jets will be aiming to keep pace with the rest of the AFC East. This should be a hard-fought contest and New York could unleash some new wrinkles out of its bye week.
• Complete advance scouting report

</td><td align="center"> </td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center"> </td><td width="100%">Bears at Falcons
1:00 PM ET

This is a matchup between two teams in the midst of a tight race in their respective divisions. Chicago is leading the tough NFC North by a game over the Packers, while the Falcons are one game behind the Panthers in the NFC South. Both teams are rebounding from a poor season in 2007 and rely on a strong ground game along with a stingy defense. This promises to be a physical game.
• Complete advance scouting report

</td><td align="center"> </td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center"> </td><td width="100%">Panthers at Buccaneers
1:00 PM ET

Games like these go a long way toward deciding eventual division winners, and for now the NFC South is very much a four-team race. Carolina is up one game after last week's walkover against Kansas City, but Tampa Bay can move up front in the division if it bounces back from a tough loss at Denver.
• Complete advance scouting report

</td><td align="center"> </td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center"> </td><td width="100%">Rams at Redskins
1:00 PM ET

The Washington offense keeps getting better and better, led by Jason Campbell, who is developing into the No. 1 QB Washington envisioned when it selected him in the first round in 2006. RB Clinton Portis never gets mentioned with the elite backs in the NFL, but he should be, while WR Santana Moss should provide some highlights against one of the worst secondaries in the NFL. Great teams put away bad football teams (see: Giants, New York) and the Redskins need to stay focused going against the Rams, who are an inferior team. St. Louis has a new head coach in Jim Haslett and it's hard to imagine things getting much worse in St. Louis.
• Complete advance scouting report

</td><td align="center"> </td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center"> </td><td width="100%">Dolphins at Texans
1:00 PM ET

With the Texans falling apart in last week's emotional home opener and the Dolphins coming off a second consecutive impressive victory, this should be an intriguing matchup. If Houston doesn't bounce back this week, the franchise already will have to begin looking ahead to next season. For its part, Miami will try to keep riding a wave of momentum by designing another creative offensive game plan and delivering another hard-nosed defensive effort. With nothing to lose at this point, expect Texans coach Gary Kubiak to empty his playbook in search of that elusive first win.
• Complete advance scouting report

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<table class="tablehead" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center"> </td><td width="100%">Jaguars at Broncos
4:05 PM ET

After starting the season 0-2 and then winning their next two, the Jags played host to the Steelers on Sunday night. They were dominated for most of the game, but came back very strong, yet couldn't pull out the victory. Meanwhile the Broncos beat the Buccaneers last week due to production from an unlikely source -- their defense. The Jaguars need this game badly to keep up in the AFC South, but the first-place Broncos will prove to be a very difficult test.
• Complete advance scouting report

</td><td align="center"> </td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center"> </td><td width="100%">Eagles at 49ers
4:15 PM ET

Neither team is particularly pleased with its 2-3 record, and both are looking at must-win situations because they don't want to fall too far behind their division leaders. San Francisco probably has less to lose, because no one appears to be willing to run away with the division. This game would probably be the Eagles' to lose, if RB Brian Westbrook were available, but with his broken ribs making him iffy, this suddenly becomes a winnable game for the 49ers.
• Complete advance scouting report

</td><td align="center"> </td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center"> </td><td width="100%">Packers at Seahawks
4:15 PM ET

It wasn't long ago that these teams faced each other in a divisional playoff game in Green Bay. What a difference a year makes. Both clubs find themselves in much different positions, and both desperately need a win to keep pace in their respective divisions.
• Complete advance scouting report

</td><td align="center"> </td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center"> </td><td width="100%">Cowboys at Cardinals
4:15 PM ET

The Cowboys are coming off two less-than-impressive outings and have to travel to the desert, where the Cardinals put it to the previously undefeated Bills last week. Arizona has a very talented group of receivers (even without Anquan Boldin, who is questionable) to get the ball to, and it appears to be a tough matchup for Dallas' secondary. This is a key contest for both clubs because the Cowboys need to get back to playing more consistently, while the Cardinals can take a firm hold on the NFC West with another victory going into their bye week. Look for an intense battle between two teams that have very capable quarterbacks with lots of talent around them to light up the scoreboard.
• Complete advance scouting report

</td><td align="center"> </td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center"> </td><td width="100%">Patriots at Chargers
8:15 PM ET

Both teams are nowhere near what we expected heading into the season. The loss of franchise QB Tom Brady was huge for New England, but the Patriots continue to find ways to win. What's the Chargers' excuse? They have struggled on offense, while the defense continues to underachieve. Look for Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to continue to add wrinkles to his game plan that takes the pressure off QB Matt Cassel, while stretching the field with WR Randy Moss and creating space underneath. Chargers head coach Norv Turner will likely open up the game plan and take advantage of a suspect Patriots secondary, while forcing their linebackers to defend underneath sideline-to-sideline. Will Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson get it going after a bad week? Something has to give when these two teams meet under the lights on Sunday night.
• Complete advance scouting report

</td><td align="center"> </td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center"> </td><td width="100%">Giants at Browns
8:30 PM ET

Both teams enter this game with some confidence. The Browns had a bye week to build on a good division win over Cincinnati two weeks ago, while the Giants are flying high after a dominating win over Seattle. Right now, the Giants look unstoppable and are nearly perfect on both sides of the ball. Eli Manning is in a terrific zone and making almost every play a positive one. Cleveland QB Derek Anderson is holding on to his job, but he hasn't been able to get an offense that should be explosive to play up to its potential. Although the Giants appear to be superior in almost every category, Cleveland's had two weeks to prepare for the Giants and is showing signs of improvement. "Monday Night Football" usually brings the best out of players no matter what the team's record is, and this is a must-win for Cleveland.
• Complete advance scouting report

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[BadCo]

• Must Read
• Top Stories

• 1. Cardinals' Wilson fined for hit on Bills' QB
• 1 day ago | Arizona Republic
• Cardinals strong safety Adrian Wilson was fined $25,000 for his hit on Bills quarterback Trent Edwards last Sunday and warned that future infractions will lead to stiffer penalties.
• 2. White questionable after missing practice
• 1 day ago | Atlanta Journal-Constitution
• The team said he injured his head during Wednesday's practice when he collided with safety Lawyer Milloy.
• 3. Ravens LB Lewis questionable for Sunday
• 1 day ago | CW 15
• Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis was back at practice Friday after missing Thursday's workout with a knee problem.
• 4. Hit on Edwards Ruled Illegal
• 1 day ago | R News
• Buffalo quarterback Trent Edwards is still trying to recover from his concussion, suffered last week in a game at Arizona.
• 5. Panthers' Delhomme does his best work vs. Bucs
• 1 day ago | Rock Hill Herald
• Even though they're consistently one of the best defenses he faces, Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme loves seeing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
• 6. Balanced offense
• 1 day ago | Northwest Herald
• Kyle Orton's performance last Sunday at Detroit was notable not only for its productivity, but for its versatility.
• 7. Palmer out; Fitzpatrick to start at QB for Bengals
• 1 day ago | Dayton Daily News
• Instead of waiting to make a game-time decision, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis decided to pull the trigger Friday, Oct. 10.
• 8. Winslow remains 50-50 for game
• 1 day ago | Akron Beacon Journal
• BEREA: Browns tight end Kellen Winslow has a 50-50 chance of playing Monday against the New York Giants after spending a second consecutive night in the Cleveland Clinic on Friday with an undisclosed illness.
• 9. For now, NFL will take no action on 'Pacmana
• 1 day ago | Fort Worth Star-Telegram
• The NFL will decide next week whether to take disciplinary action against Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones for a fight with his bodyguard Tommy Jones Tuesday night.
• 10. Broncos wary of Garrard
• 1 day ago | Fort Collins Coloradoan
• ENGLEWOOD - The Denver Broncos remember what Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard did to them last year.
• 11. Lions' Kitna still down, is probably out
• 1 day ago | The Detroit News
• Lions quarterback Jon Kitna was held out of practice Friday -- he had his injured back examined by a specialist instead -- fueling speculation he'll miss Sunday's game at Minnesota.
• 12. Injury may beat Hasselbeck
• 1 day ago | Green Bay Press-Gazette
• Though the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks have injured quarterbacks, the Packers might catch the bigger break.
• 13. Texans' Faggins to get second straight start at CB
• 1 day ago | Houston Chronicle
• When the Texans play Miami on Sunday, Texans cornerback DeMarcus Faggins will start opposite Jacques Reeves for the second consecutive game, meaning Fred Bennett has been relegated to nickel back.
• 14. Looking to Unleash the 'D'
• 1 day ago | Fort Wayne News-Sentinel
• Yes, the tackling could be better. Yes, they miss Bob Sanders. Yes, a thin defensive line has hurt up front.
• 15. Critical AFC game in Denver
• 1 day ago | Jacksonville Jaguars
• The Jaguars face another critical AFC game on Sunday. For a team whose division title hopes are fading, these are the games that matter most in the wild-card race.
• 16. Chiefs' rookies are learning it's a long season
• 1 day ago | Kansas City Star
• Most days, Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr wish the Chiefs season would last forever.
• 17. Ginn to watch clock carefully
• 2 days ago | The Orlando Sentinel
• Ted Ginn Jr. didn't need to turn on sports talk radio to hear critics nail him for running out of bounds twice against the Chargers with the Dolphins trying to run out the clock on their second straight ...
• 18. Vikings' Frerotte still is a useful guy
• 1 day ago | Detroit News
• Good ol' Gus. Even opposing coaches call him that these days. You don't notice Gus Frerotte -- or miss him -- until you need him.
• 19. Patriots Journal: No Merriman, but there's still talent on Chargers' defense
• 1 day ago | Providence Journal
• The San Diego Chargers defense may be playing without linebacker Shawne Merriman, but that doesn't mean the unit is suddenly a pushover.
• 20. Colston might make return
• 1 day ago | New Orleans Times-Picayune
• Receiver Marques Colston is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders.
• 21. Secondary has been a primary force for Giants
• 1 day ago | Newsday.com
• They may not have the cute nicknames or feature the creative sack dances of their beefy brethren up front.
• 22. Mangini babies 'Brett'
• 1 day ago | Newsday.com
• Jets coach Eric Mangini 's third son was delivered at 7:43 a.m. Friday. His name: Zack Brett Mangini.
• 23. Payton was interviewed by Davis
• 1 day ago | Contra Costa Times
• Tom Cable and Sean Payton were graduate assistants at San Diego State in 1989. They passed their time doing so-called grunt work, horsing around and telling stories.
• 24. Eagles will be without injured Westbrook against 49ers
• 1 day ago | The Morning Call
• Tony Bennett left his heart in San Francisco. The Eagles left their featured running back in Philadelphia.
• 25. Hampton's hometown heartache
• 2 days ago | Pittsburgh Steelers
• Nose tackle Casey Hampton is dealing with a groin injury right now, but it's nothing compared to what his family is dealing with.
• 26. Window of opportunity closing as Chargers dig early hole
• 1 day ago | San Diego Union-Tribune
• LaDainian Tomlinson said this week the Chargers "can't afford to go to 2-4." He probably didn't know how right he was.
• 27. Hasselbeck unlikely to face Pack
• 1 day ago | Tacoma News Tribune
• Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has not had his full contingent of wide receivers all season long.
• 28. 49ers notes: Rookie Balmer works overtime to improve
• 1 day ago | Sacramento Bee Newspaper
• Success in the NFL trenches means getting better leverage than the guy opposite you, which isn't easy when you're long-legged and 6-foot-5 like rookie Kentwan Balmer.
• 29. Looker still waiting for answers on brain abnormality
• 1 day ago | Belleville News Democrat
• Wide receiver Dane Looker's status is still in limbo as doctors attempt to determine the cause of an abnormality on his brain that was discovered during a CAT scan.
• 30. Bucs call on QB Garcia to energize offense
• 1 day ago | St. Petersburg Times
• The spring is back in Jeff Garcia's step. The Bucs hope he can energize the offense as well.
• 31. Titans use time off to fine-tune play
• 1 day ago | The Tennessean Nashville News
• The undefeated Titans spent much of the bye week working on minute details, a stark contrast to what their next opponent was dealing with.
• 32. Redskins' Outlet Is Electric
• 1 day ago | The Washington Post
• If pass catchers are well covered and Washington Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell is in need of help, that's usually when wide receiver Antwaan Randle El does his best work.

 

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Thats pretty cool how you were able to make all those little logos...did you do that with markers

 

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By Darin Gantt - The Herald


CHARLOTTE -- Even though they're consistently one of the best defenses he faces, Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme loves seeing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Delhomme's 4-0 in Raymond James Stadium, site of this weekend's game, and 7-1 overall and had career-best stats against the Bucs.

Of teams he's faced at least four times, he's posted his highest passer rating of 93.5 in eight games against Tampa. In a career that began with a 15.9 rating in his first Panthers start, he's gone on to top 90.0 ratings five times and 100.0s three.

 

[BadCo]

Palmer and Hasselbeck likely out for Week 6

Saturday, October 11, 2008 | Print Entry

Posted by Stephania Bell
Here's what we know as we head into Week 6 contests.
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Carson Palmer

G. Newman Lowrance/Getty Images

Carson Palmer gets another week off this week. Ryan Fitzpatrick should be just as good, right?

Carson Palmer, QB, Cincinnati Bengals: Palmer is listed as doubtful this week but the Bengals have already indicated that backup Ryan Fitzpatrick will start. Palmer still has soreness in his throwing elbow, and after not practicing all week, was relegated to non-starter this week. Whether Palmer is completely sidelined or whether he suits up as the No. 2 quarterback remains to be seen. It appears that the team is being protective of Palmer's elbow in the interest of his long-term health. With Fitzpatrick having an extra week of snaps with the first team, and Palmer being so critical to the franchise, it is not surprising that the team would opt to rest him. What is a bit surprising is they have not completely ruled him out of the game. It seems that if the Bengals wanted him to rest his elbow, the safest play would be to make him unavailable. After all, the No. 2 quarterback would then be Carson's younger brother, Jordan. Surely he's picked up a tip or two from his older sibling. In any event, fantasy owners want to find a replacement for Week 6 and it wouldn't be a bad idea to keep a second quarterback on your reserve list. This could be a week-to-week situation.

Matt Hasselbeck, QB and Deion Branch WR, Seattle Seahawks: What is in the drinking water in Seattle? There has to be a big reward waiting for whoever can discover the antidote to the injury plague attacking the Seattle quarterback and receiving crew.

Seattle will be starting its No. 3 quarterback Sunday if Charlie Frye takes the field at 4:15 p.m. EST. I say "if" because although Hasselbeck has not yet been cleared for contact, there is an outside chance that could happen by Sunday -- a very teeny, tiny outside chance. Hasselbeck hyperextended his knee last week and although a subsequent MRI revealed no ligament or meniscal damage, he did sustain a painful bone bruise and has been unable to practice all week. Early in the week, coach Mike Holmgren indicated that he expected Hasselbeck to be ready by game time, a point that was reiterated as late as Thursday by offensive coordinator Gil Haskell. But Hasselbeck was still not practicing Friday and, according to ESPN reports, Holmgren offered this explanation: "The thing just has not responded. He can't do much with his leg. It's not ligaments, it's not anything like that. It's just sore." Holmgren does not want to put a potentially vulnerable Hasselbeck on the field when his inability to move well could result in more hits and further injury. So, enter backup quarterback Seneca Wallace. Oops! He's not available because of a calf strain that has had him sidelined since he was prepping for filling in as the fifth or sixth wide receiver. Fortunately for Frye, he has been taking the first team snaps all week, and he did some filling in for Hasselbeck in preseason games while Hasselbeck nursed a sore lower back.

But the injuries don't stop there. Branch, who was so excited about making his regular-season NFL return last week from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery, was forced out early Sunday with a new injury. Branch is listed as questionable but is not expected to play.

Branch suffered a heel bruise on his left side. Sure, a bruise doesn't sound major, but if you were to take a hammer and slam it against your heel, then walk around on it, you might be able to appreciate just how limiting this type of thing can be. Now attempt to run, where your heel has to hit the ground harder. Even better, try jumping and landing on that foot alone. That's right. You really can't. (Hopefully no one actually tried this, but you get the picture.) Now complicate that picture by having a newly reconstructed knee on the other side. Although Branch was doing well from a healing perspective on his surgically reconstructed right knee, he was just getting his confidence back in that leg. Part of that help is having another "sound" leg. With his left leg now compromised, it potentially alters the way he moves on his right leg, and that is not something you want to see from a rehab perspective, as you're just getting an athlete back to competition.

If you want to take the glass-half-full approach, there is a bit of good news in Seattle. Last week the Seahawks saw receiver Bobby Engram enter the lineup for the first time in 2008 after being out with a fractured shoulder. He played well and is expected to see increased activity this week. Recently re-signed receiver Koren Robinson appears to be on the mend from the knee soreness that kept him out of the lineup thus far. After practicing all week, he is expected to start Sunday also.

Justin Fargas, RB and Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland Raiders: The bye week helped both Oakland running backs, but one is clearly healthier than the other at this point. Fargas, who suffered a groin injury in Week 3 that caused him to miss Week 4, took advantage of the bye to get healthy. He practiced fully all week, is listed as probable and is expected to start.

McFadden has been dealing with a turf toe injury for several weeks that clearly limited him in Week 4. The bye week also afforded him some much-needed rest, but the fact that McFadden was still wearing a protective boot early this week let on that the toe was not 100 percent. Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee reports that McFadden feels much better but is still stiff and still requires protection in his shoe. McFadden is listed as questionable but is expected to play Sunday. Given their relative health, expect Fargas to get the bulk of the work this week.

Brian Griese, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: In a move that surprises no one, Jeff Garcia has been announced as this week's starting quarterback in Tampa Bay. Griese took a hit last week that left him with a bruised elbow and a shoulder strain in his throwing arm, and although he is listed as questionable, it is more likely that Luke McCown will serve as Garcia's backup. Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg Times reported that inflammation in Griese's elbow has essentially kept him from being able to throw at all this week, and unless that changes Sunday morning, which appears unlikely at this point, he will be in street clothes. Griese's timeline for return really depends on how the inflammation resolves and how functional his arm is, something that will be evaluated on a day-to-day basis next week.
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Marques Colston

Scott Boehm/Getty Images

Drew Brees is probably counting down the days until Marques Colston is available to throw to.

Marques Colston, WR and Jeremy Shockey, TE, New Orleans Saints: The injury-plagued Saints appear to have been sharing tainted drinking water with the Seahawks. It now appears the Saints will be without the services of defensive tackle Antwan Lake as a result of a groin injury. Lake was filling in for the injured Sedrick Ellis, who is still recovering from knee surgery to address a torn meniscus. Wide receiver David Patten (doubtful) will likely miss another week because of his groin injury.

Everyone is looking for some good news on the injury front in New Orleans and Colston may be just the spark. But don't get too excited yet. Colston, coming off ligament-repair surgery in his thumb, is listed as questionable and may not see the field just yet. Colston came out of his cast last week and was able to participate in practice to some degree this week, wearing only limited padding on his thumb. In fact, Colston told the New Orleans Times-Picayune how surprisingly good his thumb felt when catching the ball: "I really don't feel it out there and I'm catching the ball well. It really doesn't feel like I'm trying to catch the ball any different."

Nevertheless, he is still on the early side of recovery and the medical staff needs to feel confident that no matter what Colston might encounter on the field, he will not be at risk for a setback. It's not just catching the ball and holding onto it, which certainly requires a great deal of thumb control and an ability to absorb impact. He has to be able to hit that thumb against a helmet or the ground and have that repair hold up. As much as they would like to see him active, the Saints may just have him sit tight another week. In fact, if he does suit up, expect him to see limited action.

Meanwhile, much was made of Shockey's return to practice Wednesday following sports hernia surgery a few weeks ago. Shockey did not practice Thursday or Friday, however, suggesting, as does his doubtful tag, that he will not see action for at least another week.

Other noteworthy items

• Cleveland Browns star tight end Kellen Winslow has spent the past two nights in a local hospital after not feeling well earlier in the week. There has been no word thus far as to the nature of the injury, but certainly hospitalization affords Winslow the chance to be observed and to ensure that he is receiving appropriate fluids and any necessary medications. The Browns have him listed as questionable for Monday night, but in addition to recovering from the illness itself, one concern has to be weakness after being in this state for a few days. Stay tuned.

• Chicago Bears receiver Brandon Lloyd is listed as doubtful with his sprained knee. Lloyd has yet to practice and the doubtful tag makes it virtually certain that he will not play. Expect his status to be shaky at best for the next couple of weeks.

• Atlanta Falcons receiver Roddy White dismissed his collision with Lawyer Milloy on Wednesday as minor, and it appears the team held him out of practice Thursday as a precautionary measure. But White did not practice Friday either and is now listed as a game-time decision. Head injuries are nothing to sneeze at, but White's injury was not seen as serious enough to require any formal testing. The rest may have been a means of ensuring he would be available for Sunday and it sounds as if he will play. The game is early, so fantasy owners should check inactive lists before game time, but there is reason to be optimistic.

• It looks as if there will be another backup quarterback starting Sunday, this time in Detroit. Jon Kitna has been dealing with lower back spasms that began during last week's game, and he is listed as doubtful. Backup Dan Orlovsky reportedly injured his ankle last week, yet he is listed as probable and it sounds as if he will get the start ahead of Drew Stanton. Receivers Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson were both listed as questionable this week; Johnson has a minor knee ailment, the result of banging it in practice earlier in the week, and Williams has been bothered by his hip. Both were held out of practice Friday but are expected to play Sunday.

• New England has listed running back LaMont Jordan as doubtful with a calf injury and running back Laurence Maroney as questionable with his shoulder injury. While Jordan did not practice all week and is almost certain to sit, Maroney practiced fully Wednesday but then saw limited action Thursday and Friday. He has not divulged even the slightest bit of information relative to his shoulder but acknowledges that he has "issues" he is trying to address, and sounds less than 100 percent. Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk may be your guys this week.

• San Diego Chargers receiver Chris Chambers managed to injure his ankle on the last play of the team's loss to Miami on Sunday. He was unable to practice all week, is listed as doubtful and is unlikely to play. Teammate Vincent Jackson is listed as probable after missing a day of practice Thursday with a sore knee. Jackson was back full-bore Friday and is expected to start, especially in light of Chambers' situation.

• Denver Broncos receiver Eddie Royal is listed as questionable because of an ankle bruise that kept him out of practice Wednesday and limited him the remainder of the week. ESPN's John Clayton said Royal will be a game-time decision. With Tony Scheffler and Selvin Young out this week, Denver's offense could be in a bit of trouble.

Out: This is a list of key fantasy players, not including those who have been moved to Injured Reserve status, who are officially added to the "out" listing for Week 6.

Brian Westbrook, RB and Reggie Brown, WR, Philadelphia Eagles: Westbrook's absence this week is not a huge surprise although it is a huge disappointment for fantasy owners. Westbrook has two broken ribs along with a still-recovering right ankle and, with a bye in Week 7, the Eagles have to be hoping that this will get him to a healthy place for the remainder of the season. Brown is dealing with his third soft tissue injury of the season (Achilles, hamstring, now groin) and will sit this one out.

Anquan Boldin, WR, Arizona Cardinals: Despite the fact Boldin was not officially ruled out until Friday, his absence does not come as a major surprise. Boldin is still recuperating from a procedure to address a sinus fracture. The Cardinals have a week off in Week 7, but you can expect him back in action in Week 8.

Joey Galloway, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Galloway is out again. The difference this week is that Galloway did some limited practice. Very limited in fact, as in just one day of light work. Apparently his foot is still healing. But at least that is some progress to report and with any hope, he'll be steadily increasing his activity from here.

Terence Newman, CB, Dallas Cowboys: Officially listed as out because of an abdominal injury, there have been murmurings that Newman has a sports hernia that could require surgery and cause him to miss more than a month. Whenever an athlete has a groin injury followed by an abdominal injury, it begins to sound like a sports hernia. This is not good news for the Cowboys' secondary, because they have their fair share of challenges all around.

Tony Scheffler, TE and Selvin Young, RB, Denver Broncos: Groin injuries for everyone. Scheffler was on crutches after injuring himself in Week 5, so his absence from the lineup this week is not much of a surprise. Early on, it sounded as if this could be a more serious injury, but coach Mike Shanahan told the Denver Post he expects Scheffler to return for next week's Monday night game in New England. Shanahan offered essentially the same prognosis for Young, who has the same injury and did not practice all week either.

 

[BadCo]

FYI these guy's score preictions have sucked,no better than a touts picks......50% a

Patriots will try and bait Rivers

By Keith Kidd
Scouts Inc.



Wednesday, October 8, 2008

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<table id="inlinetable" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="100%"><tbody><tr><th colspan="9" style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="center">New England at San Diego</th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" align="center"> </td><td colspan="5" align="center">When: 8:15 PM ET
Watch: NBC
Preview
More scouting reports: Week 6
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</th></tr><tr><th style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" colspan="9">Scouts Inc. Position Advantage</th></tr><tr><td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">QB</td><td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">RB</td><td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">WR</td><td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">OL</td><td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">DL</td><td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">LB</td><td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">DB</td><td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">ST</td><td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">Coach</td></tr><tr style="background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" valign="top"><td align="center" width="62">

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</td></tr></tbody></table>Both teams are nowhere near what we expected heading into the season. The loss of franchise QB Tom Brady was huge for New England, but the Patriots continue to find ways to win. What's the Chargers' excuse? They have struggled on offense, while the defense continues to underachieve. Look for Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to continue to add wrinkles to his game plan that takes the pressure off QB Matt Cassel, while stretching the field with WR Randy Moss and creating space underneath. Chargers head coach Norv Turner will likely open up the game plan and take advantage of a suspect Patriots secondary, while forcing their linebackers to defend underneath sideline-to-sideline. Will Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson get it going after a bad week? Something has to give when these two teams meet under the lights on Sunday night.

When New England has the ball
McDaniels is one the brightest young coaches in the NFL when it comes to attacking defenses. The Patriots have slowly added new wrinkles as Cassel continues to help this offense find its identify. The Patriots utilize more two-tight ends packages last week with Benjamin Watson and David Thomas that brought more flexibility and balance to the offense. Look for McDaniels to continue to rely on the Patriots' rushing attack against a Chargers front seven that is allowing 113.4 yards per game. The Patriots like to run left behind LG Logan Mankins and LT Matt Light. They will attack the edges of the Chargers' 3-4 defense to set up their quick, controlled passing attack. Also, look for the Patriots to continue to utilize their screen game to RB Kevin Faulk and underneath passing game with WRs Moss, Wes Welker and Jabar Gaffney because each receiver poses different problems for the defense to defend. One other thing to watch is Moss, who predominantly lines up in the split end position on the left, moving around in the formation, especially to the right side, which puts him in Cassel's line of vision. Defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell is a conservative play caller and must find a way to get his unit to start faster against the Patriots' spread offense. Look for Cottrell to dial up a few more pressure schemes this week to get after Cassel in the pocket. Even though Cassel showed some positive signs last week, he still looks very uncertain and makes some questionable decisions.

When San Diego has the ball
The biggest challenge facing Turner this week is the health of his offensive unit. There is no doubt that Tomlinson and TE Antonio Gates are not 100 percent healthy. Plus, there is a lack of continuity along the offensive line. With that said, Turner will rely even more this week on QB Philip Rivers, who has had two sub-par performances over the last two games after starting the season on fire. Rivers doesn't have the strongest arm in the NFL, but he is smart and very accurate in the short-to-intermediate areas in the passing game.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick tailors his game plan to the strengths of his opponent, making sure to take those away first. So you can bet the house that the Patriots will look to take away Tomlinson and Gates in passing situations. The Patriots must do a great job of controlling the interior with NT Vince Wilfork, while attacking downhill gaps with inside linebackers Jerod Mayo and Tedy Bruschi. They also must be disciplined in their gap control both out on the edge and in the backside, cut-back lanes.
<table id="inlinetable" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="100%"> <tbody><tr><th style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Matchup to watch</th> </tr><tr valign="middle"> <td align="center"> <table border="0" cellpadding="6"> <tbody><tr> <td>

</td> <td>New England NT Vince Wilfork vs. San Diego C Nick Hardwick</td> <td>

</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td> It all starts up front in the Patriots' 3-4 defense. Wilfork made his first Pro Bowl last season and is one of the best pure 3-4 nose tackles in the NFL. He is big enough to control the middle and athletic enough to extend and make plays outside the box. He is a solid technician who understands leverage and has explosive hands with functional play strength. C Nick Hardwick returned to action two weeks ago against the Raiders after missing an extended amount of time due to offseason foot surgery. With the return of Hardwick, the Chargers' offensive line is now intact and should start to improve as a unit. Hardwick became the starting center in his rookie season and has been an underrated stabilizing force in the middle of San Diego's line ever since. He understands his position very well and while he isn't a brute who can blow most nose tackles off the line of scrimmage, he understands hand placement, keeps his feet driving on contact, never gives up on a play and has the toughness to finish with authority. This should be a great matchup to watch. </td></tr> </tbody></table>

Keys to
Success

<!--New England Keys To Success

--> 1Limit Tomlinson: The No. 1 key for the Patriots' defense will be stopping LT. He has been limited with a toe injury and doesn't seem to have that explosive lateral jump-cut ability that he's had in year's past. When you study him on film, it's obvious that the toe injury is affecting his performance. However, change-of-pace runner Darren Sproles is an explosive player that has tremendous wiggle and speed to burn. The Patriots have an impressive defensive line, led by Wilfork in the middle along with RDE Richard Seymour and LDE Ty Warren. The key for this unit will be its ability to create a new line of scrimmage, which will allow their linebackers to play fast and downhill within their gap responsibilities to restrict run spacing.
2Get Cassel going early: McDaniels did a great job last week of using the running game to set up the quick, controlled passing attack. The key for Cassel will be to get into the flow of the game quickly with some bubble screens to his receivers, along with utilizing Watson on some middle screens to neutralize the Chargers' pass rush. The Chargers have done a nice job of getting pressure from their front four, but the loss of LB Jyles Tucker could hinder their pass rush. Look for Cottrell to incorporate more movements within his designs and dial up some five- and six-man pressure schemes to try and rattle the young signal caller. The Chargers can't allow Moss to get behind the secondary for any explosive downfield plays.
3Points of defense or special teams: If the Chargers get hot offensively, the Patriots could be on for a long night unless they can find ways to score points off turnovers or in the kicking game. The Patriots are very sound in the kicking game and Ellis Hobbs can take it to the house anytime he touches it on kickoff returns. Plus, New England could bait Rivers into some game-changing mistakes due to its very complex coverage concepts.

Keys to
Success

<!--San Diego Keys To Success

--> 1Start fast: Over his career, Turner has done a great job of calling plays that attack the weakness of a defense. The Patriots have some older players on defense, and like to utilize a lot of different personnel groupings, depending on offensive personnel and situational down and distance. We expect the Chargers to start the game with an up-tempo style by getting LT going early and incorporating some gadget plays that will restrict the Patriots from taking advantage of some individual matchups based on their substitution patterns.
2Force turnovers: The Chargers have a very talented secondary led by CB Antonio Cromartie, but have underachieved so far this season and are currently ranked No. 32 in the NFL against the pass. Rookie CB Antoine Cason, who aligns as the star in sub, along with FS Eric Weddle, who moves down in the box as the money, must do a great job versus Welker. He is a tremendous receiver if used right int the slot. With Cassel's uncertainty in the pocket, the Chargers' secondary will have a lot of chances to make some plays on Sunday night.
3Win the kicking game: This critical element could decide the outcome. Sproles offers big-play ability any time he touches the ball as a returner. The Patriots' coverage units must be very disciplined, but will have a tough time tracking him in open space due to his lack of height, tremendous lateral mobility and functional play speed. Plus, Chargers P Mike Scifres is one of the best in the NFL, while K Nate Kaeding has been very consistent with the exception of being consistent in the 40- to 49-yard range.

Scouts Edge

Over the last few years these two teams have built up a great little rivalry. Turner was in this situation last season after some early losses and must find a way to get his team back on track. The Patriots showed the NFL last week that they are still a team that needs to be reckoned with in the AFC. Offensively, the Patriots are still looking for an identity, while the Chargers must find a way to come up big defensively and help out an offense that has struggled with nagging injuries. The Chargers can ill-afford to lose more ground in the AFC West and are in need of a big win at home, which they should get on Sunday night. <table id="inlinetable" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="100%"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Prediction</th></tr><tr valign="top"><td align="center"> </td><td valign="middle" width="100%">New England 20
San Diego 26</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[Jetplane]

Oh my, I hope they are right about the pats this time. For my sake.